Kroger Double Coupons Every Day

Did you know Kroger will double any coupon up to $0.50 every day. Kroger is the largest grocery in the U.S. but it might be under another name where you live.

Parenting and Financial Encouragement

Don't go it alone. You're not alone! If you're just getting started SMASHing, or if you've been SMASHing for years, I highly recommend these great sources of encouragement and wisdom:



Join a MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers) Group

When I first left work to stay home with my kids it was a strange new world. I was a bit lost with no adults to talk to all day long until I found a MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers) group at my church. MOPS was a great way to meet other women with young children.


Make Money with FREE Mystery Shopping


Mystery Shopping is a great way to get out of the house, have some fun shopping at places you might not ordinarily shop or dine, and get paid to do it! This week I've taken my kids to Chic-Fil-A, bought groceries for the week, and paid a bill, all with cash earned just by mystery shopping! It requires diligence and attention to detail, but the money is real.

I'm a thrifty person, and was so frustrated to find that the only way, it seemed, to mystery shop, was to pay for the information to get started. It's hard to find good company's to work for that don't charge a fee to get started. To you, my SMASHing friend, I hereby provide an exclusive, valuable, and FREE list of companies that I work for who don't charge a fee, and you can too!



Title I - $600 FREE Tutoring

Did you know that if your public school district is a "Title I public school," and you choose to enroll your kids in home school or private school instead of public school, you are eligible to receive FREE federal tutoring money to supplement your child's education. The program is called Title I, (pronounced Title One).

Because our school has been classified as a Title I school, we received an unassuming letter from the county school board inviting us to attend an informational meeting regarding Title I Funding. At the meeting they explained that the government will fund $600 worth of private education, and I kept thinking, "This is too good to be true!"

Like any federal program, there are 1000 hoops to jump through, and millions of forms to fill out. After five months of meetings and paperwork, my son is scheduled to receive his first in home tutoring session, paid for by Uncle Sam.


Free Dr. Pepper @ Chick-Fil-A

Go to 40winners.com for a free Dr. Pepper and a chance to win a trip and free Chick-Fil-A for a year. I signed up and will receive two free Dr. Pepper coupons (one for my husband) in the mail.


What is SMASH?

SMASH - Save Money And Stay Home (with your kids), was created to help mothers escape the rat race: the myth that a family has to have dual incomes. We've been tricked into thinking two incomes are necessary, that day care is a good place to raise children, that never having dinner together is okay, that "it's better for kids to get sick now" (in day care).

There are lots of mothers working to put food on the table and keep a roof over your family's head -- I salute you! But there are even more moms working to make the second car payment on a new car and to buy Jibbitz for Crocs. Will you look back on your life and say, "Boy I'm sure glad I worked instead of being with my kids so they could wear Ralph Lauren!" Regardless of your work status or location, SMASH is were you can find ways to make your dollars go farther, and hopefully, where you can find the courage to get out of the rat race.

During my first years of motherhood, I was making great money, with a prestigious career at a Fortune 500 company, with a company car, health care, profit sharing, and generous bonuses. I traveled 3 days per week, my home office phone rang off the hook, my home fax machine rang throughout the night, my boss regularly called at 7am. Even when I was home, I wasn't available to my family. One day, when picking up my son from preschool, his teacher mentioned that I must have been traveling that week. I said, "Yes, how did you know?" She said, "Oh I can always tell when you're traveling, because your son is so sad." That was the moment I knew it was time to start SMASHing.

After long talks and prayerful consideration, I left the rat-race, and came home. It's been a long, difficult road, but it's worth it. I'm no Polly-Anna, at best I'm a bag lady with a house, but I know it's better for my kids, to be here, teaching, loving, and even punishing them first-hand.

Growing up, my mom set the standard by always knowing the best deals, and never making a purchase without a coupon. Living on just my husband's income, has forced me to become the DEAL QUEEN. I make it my life's quest to always know the best deals, where to find the best coupons, and how to boost my family's income with family friendly money-making ventures. SMASH is here to share all my money-saving, money-making ideas with you. Let me be the first to tell you, YOU LOOK SMASHing DARLING!!!